Illinois high school wrestlers charged in hazing case

Five wrestlers at Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake — a Chicago northwest suburb that absolutely has never had Jason Voorhees at camp — are charged with misdemeanor battery after what police called multiple occasions of hazing against teammates. You know, I bet you’re thinking this shouldn’t be called “hazing” when it appears to serve no greater purpose than an excuse for teammates to beat the hell out of each other and insert items in orifices where they should not be inserted.

From the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, Ill.:

The arrests culminated a probe that began after officials at the Crystal Lake school received an anonymous letter Jan. 28 claiming a student wrestler was held down by teammates and repeatedly slapped in the stomach.

The ensuing investigation included interviews with more than 60 students as well as the school’s wrestling coaches, police said. It revealed allegations that several wrestlers participated in hazing activities that included restraining teammates while they were slapped and groped through their clothing, according to police.

Of course, the five juveniles have someone on the payroll who will defend their right to grab-ass.

Dan Hoffman, an attorney for one of the boys arrested, called the charges “absolutely outrageous.”

“Any parent should be very worried if they have a child engaged in sports at Prairie Ridge High School,” he said. “They should be afraid that innocent adolescent horseplay will result in criminal charges.”